The Japanese word 無頼派 (Buraiha)

 The Japanese word 無頼派 (Buraiha) refers to a group of Japanese writers who emerged in the immediate aftermath of World War II.

Here's a breakdown of its meaning and how it's used:

Meaning of 無頼派 (Buraiha)

無頼 (burai) literally means "outlaw," "dissolute," "profligate," or "rogue." It carries a sense of being unconventional, defying social norms, and living without a fixed purpose or allegiance, often with a hint of recklessness or debauchery.

派 (ha) means "school," "faction," or "group."

So, 無頼派 (Buraiha) literally translates to "dissolute school" or "rogue faction."

In the context of Japanese literature, "Buraiha" refers to a group of writers who were active in the period immediately following World War II, roughly from 1946 to the late 1940s or early 1950s. They are also sometimes referred to as the "New Gesaku School (新戯作派, Shingesakuha)" because their works often featured a playful, often satirical, and sometimes self-deprecating style reminiscent of the popular "gesaku" literature of the Edo period.

Key characteristics and themes associated with the Buraiha writers:

• Rebellion against conventional morality and established literary norms: They rejected the traditional literary styles and moral values that prevailed before and during the war. They felt that the old ways of thinking were no longer valid in the chaotic and disillusioned post-war world.
• Decadence and disillusionment: Their works often depicted a sense of despair, nihilism, and the emptiness of life. Many of the writers themselves led unconventional, often self-destructive lifestyles marked by heavy drinking and a general disregard for societal expectations.
• Exploration of human weakness and hypocrisy: They often focused on the flaws, contradictions, and dark sides of human nature, challenging the idealized images of pre-war Japanese society.
• Individualism and freedom: Despite their self-destructive tendencies, there was also a strong current of seeking individual freedom and expressing one's true self in their writing, even if it meant alienation from society.
• Prominent writers associated with the Buraiha: The most well-known figures include Dazai Osamu (太宰治), Sakaguchi Ango (坂口安吾), and Oda Sakunosuke (織田作之助). Other writers often mentioned are Ishikawa Jun (石川淳) and Dan Kazuo (檀一雄).

The term "Buraiha" itself wasn't an official school or movement with a manifesto or shared literary journal. It was a label applied to these writers by critics and the public due to the shared themes and attitudes in their works and their often rebellious lifestyles.

How to Use 無頼派 (Buraiha)

You would typically use "無頼派" when discussing Japanese literature, especially the post-World War II period, or when referring to the specific group of writers mentioned above.

Here are some examples of how to use it:

• As a noun referring to the group:

  • 「太宰治は無頼派を代表する作家の一人です。」 (Dazai Osamu is one of the representative writers of the Buraiha.)
  • 「戦後の混乱期に、無頼派の文学は多くの若者に共感を与えました。」 (In the chaotic post-war period, Buraiha literature resonated with many young people.)

• To describe the literary style or characteristics:

  • 「彼の作品には無頼派的な雰囲気が漂っています。」 (His work has a Buraiha-like atmosphere.)
  • 「無頼派文学は、既存の価値観への反発が特徴です。」 (Buraiha literature is characterized by its rebellion against existing values.)

• When speaking about individual writers in relation to the group:

  • 「坂口安吾は無頼派の思想的支柱とも言われました。」 (Sakaguchi Ango was also said to be an intellectual pillar of the Buraiha.)
  • 「織田作之助の人生もまた、無頼派的でした。」 (Oda Sakunosuke's life was also Buraiha-like.)

You generally wouldn't use "無頼派" to describe a contemporary person or a new artistic movement, as it's strongly tied to that specific historical period and literary context. While the individual word "無頼" (burai) can be used more broadly to describe someone dissolute or unruly, "無頼派" as a compound noun specifically refers to this literary group.